A criminal lawyer in Algeciras, 24 hours a day
We take arrest calls at night, at weekends and on bank holidays. We speak to the person arrested and to their family in English.
Criminal law · Algeciras and Campo de Gibraltar
Criminal lawyers in Algeciras.
Arrests at the port, rapid trials, drugs and smuggling charges. We answer day and night, by phone or WhatsApp, in English.
Talk to a lawyer today
If someone you know has been arrested in Algeciras, find out where they are being held and make sure they say nothing until they have spoken to a lawyer. Call us on +34 711 29 14 66 at any hour. We tell you what to do and take over from there, at the police station and at the duty court.
Written and reviewed by Jimena Sastre, criminal lawyer.
Updated on 4 October 2026.
Arrested at the port of Algeciras
Lorry drivers, crew members and passengers on the ferries to Tangier and Ceuta are often held at the port. They have the right to an interpreter, to silence and to have their consulate told.
Living in Gibraltar, charged in Spain
If you live or work in Gibraltar and are arrested on the Spanish side, the case runs under Spanish law and in Spanish courts. We explain each step in English and keep your family informed.
No bail as in the UK
Spain has no bail hearing as such. The duty judge decides whether you go free, go free with conditions such as reporting to the court or handing in your passport, or are held in custody. Sometimes the judge sets a money guarantee.
If the arrest is happening now
The first hours.
Anyone arrested in Spain can stay silent, choose their own lawyer and ask for an interpreter. Police custody cannot last more than 72 hours: before then, the person is either released or taken before a judge.
- Say nothing about the facts until you have spoken to your lawyer.
- Find out which police station or Guardia Civil post is holding them and call us on +34 711 29 14 66.
- Ask for an interpreter and for the consulate to be told.
- Do not discuss what happened over the phone or by message.
Where to start
What has happened?
Tell us by phone or WhatsApp and we will tell you the next step.
A relative has been arrested
Police station assistance
We go to the station, speak to them privately before any statement and go with them before the duty judge.
I have been summoned as a suspect
Court statement
The summons lets you defend yourself from the start, and what you say that day goes into the file. We read the case first and prepare your statement with you.
I have a rapid trial
Rapid trials and plea deals
Accepting the sentence at the duty court cuts it by a third. Before you sign, you need to know exactly what you are agreeing to and what record it leaves.
Drugs were found on me or in my vehicle
Drug offences
The amount, the purity and whether it was for personal use change the charge and the sentence. We check how the search was carried out.
Goods or tobacco were seized at the port
Smuggling
Below a set value it is an administrative fine, not a crime. The first thing we check is what the goods are really worth.
I was stopped for drink-driving
Driving offences
These usually go to a rapid trial. We negotiate the sentence and the driving ban, including for foreign licence holders.
I am not Spanish and worry about my residency
Criminal record and residency
A conviction can cost you your residence card renewal, and a prison sentence of over a year can lead to removal from Spain. We weigh that before any deal.
I have been the victim of a crime
Private prosecution
We file the complaint and claim compensation within the same criminal case.
Worth knowing
The charges we see most in the Campo de Gibraltar.
Drugs: what changes the sentence
Drug trafficking carries one to three years in prison for substances that do not cause serious harm to health, such as cannabis resin, and three to six years for those that do, such as cocaine. Sentences go up for large quantities or when a boat is used. Possession for personal use is not a crime, though in public it can mean a fine.
Smuggling: when it becomes a crime
It is a crime when the goods are worth 150,000 euros or more, or 15,000 euros for tobacco. Below that it is an administrative offence: a fine and loss of the goods.
Carrying cash through the port
Anyone entering or leaving the European Union with 10,000 euros or more in cash must declare it. If the money is suspected to come from a crime, a money laundering case can follow, with six months to six years in prison.
Pre-trial custody
It is only possible for offences carrying two years or more, or less with previous convictions, and when there is a risk of flight, of evidence being destroyed or of reoffending. It can be appealed and reviewed.
How we work
From the first call to the trial.
- 1
The call
You tell us what happened and we tell you what to do right away. Before we go, we tell you the fee for the police station and duty court.
- 2
The police station
We speak to the person arrested in private and decide with them whether to make a statement.
- 3
The duty court
We go with them before the judge and argue for release.
- 4
The investigation
We ask for the evidence, appeal what needs appealing and keep you informed.
- 5
The trial
If a deal with the prosecutor is in your interest, we negotiate it. If not, we defend the case in court.
FAQ
What people ask us in Algeciras.
Can I get a criminal lawyer in Algeciras at night?
Yes. For arrests we answer on +34 711 29 14 66 any day, at any hour. Other questions are dealt with during office hours.
How long can the police hold someone in Spain?
Only as long as strictly necessary, and never more than 72 hours. Within that time the person is released or taken before the duty judge. It is usually much sooner.
Do I have to make a statement to the police?
No. You can stay silent, speak only to the judge or answer only your own lawyer’s questions. You have the right to a private talk with your lawyer first.
Can I replace the duty lawyer with one I choose?
Yes, at any stage of the case. The person arrested or under investigation just has to ask for it.
Will a conviction affect my residency in Spain?
It can. A criminal record can block the renewal of a residence card, and a prison sentence of more than a year can be replaced by removal from Spain, with some exceptions. We check this before any plea deal.
Do you cover La Línea, San Roque, Los Barrios and Tarifa?
Yes, the whole Campo de Gibraltar and the rest of Spain.
How much does a criminal lawyer in Algeciras cost?
We tell you the fee for police station and duty court assistance over the phone, before we go. For the rest of the case you get a written quote.
Client reviews
What our clients say.
Jimena Sastre ha sido una excelente abogada de inmigración que me ha guiado durante todo el proceso de solicitud de la nacionalidad española. Ha sido profesional, amable, siempre dispuesta a responder mis preguntas y me ha orientado correctamente. Su enfoque hizo que mi solicitud fuera mucho más sencilla y sin estrés, y la recomiendo a otros expatriados/inmigrantes que necesiten asesoramiento y asistencia legal para sus solicitudes de residencia o nacionalidad.
El equipo de esta firma ,son sencillamente los mejores, muy profesionales, responsables, y de completa confianza. 200% recomendables!!
Todos hemos visto alguna vez pelis de abogados, que hacen milagros en los juzgados, y hemos pensado, que en la vida real estas cosas no pasan… Pero los de SyC lo consiguen. Solo puedo decirles Gracias por estar a mi lado siempre! En hora buena por vuestro trabajo!
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